The impact of therapeutic relationship on preoperative and postoperative patient anxiety

Objective The aim of this study was to determine the effectiveness of Peplau’s Interpersonal Relations Model on preoperative and postoperative patient anxiety. Design The study used a randomised clinical trial design. Setting The sample of this study consisted of 120 patients who attended the surgery clinic at Atatürk University Hospital in Erzurum, Turkey between 1 June and 30 October 2004. Subjects The patients were randomly assigned to the study group (n=60) and the control group (n=60). Interventions Peplau’s Interpersonal Relations Model intervention was implemented with the study group. Main Outcome Measure The effectiveness of Peplau’s Interpersonal Relations Model intervention with preoperative and postoperative patient’s level of anxiety. Results The level anxiety of patients in the study group decreased considerably preoperatively. There was a statistically significant difference between the study group and the control group in terms of the mean anxiety score postoperatively and before discharge from the hospital. Conclusion The researchers concluded that decreased patient anxiety was likely to be associated with intervention based on Peplau’s Interpersonal Relations Model. Peplau’s model can be recommended as an intervention for nurses to improve patient care by decreasing anxiety in the preoperative and postoperative period. RESEARCH PAPER